Posts by John

When we read the Old Testament (OT) we should always be asking at least four questions:

1) What did the text mean in its Old Covenant (OC) context for the OC people of God?;

2) How does the full and final revelation in Christ inform the OT text?

a) Does it abrogate the teaching of the text (animal sacrifices are no more),

b) Does it deepen our understanding of the text (i.e. adultery includes deeper issues of the heart such as lust),

c) Does it clarify shadow/reality relationship (such as in Hebrews, the earthly and heavenly tabernacle),

d) Does it transfer/expand the ‘people of God’ identity from Israel to the church (Ca. Ex 19:1-3 to 1 Peter 2:9-10, i.e. an elect and holy people);

3) In what way does the text anticipate the full and final victory that comes in the person and work of Jesus Christ?

 4) How does the text now apply to my context today (i.e. what do I understand about God, what do I learn about human nature, what is happening redemptively that parallels God’s work in my life today and God’s work through His church today?

Genesis begins with God and ends with the dying words of Joseph who prophesied that God would visit his people and redeem them from Egypt.  Genesis is a gospel story, i.e. the entire book is the first chapter in the grand narrative of God’s redeeming grace. It begins with the story of creation which prepares us for redemptive themes as God by His word calls light out of darkness and order out of chaos.  Genesis is about blessing and loss of blessing, about innocence and loss of innocence, about exile and a longing to find rest. It is about an Edenic garden-temple and the divine commission of stewardship and worship; it is about rebellion, about spiritual conflict, and the promise of One who would triumph over evil. Continue reading “An Introduction to the Gospel in Genesis and in the City”